Halladay rejoins Phillies after shoulder exam

Update expected Wednesday; Cloyd to take righty's rotation spot

By Todd Zolecki / MLB.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- The visitors' clubhouse at AT&T Park remained closed longer than normal following Tuesday's 6-2 victory over the Giants.

That is because Phillies right-hander Roy Halladay had a long talk with general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and manager Charlie Manuel inside the manager's office. Halladay had his injured right shoulder examined earlier in the day in Los Angeles. What was said in that closed-door meeting? Nobody was talking, although an update is expected Wednesday.

The Phillies placed Halladay on the 15-day disabled list Monday with what they called inflammation, but it could be worse than that. Amaro said Monday he would not speculate if Halladay will pitch again this season. Left-hander Cliff Lee said even if Halladay is "gone forever, there's nothing we can do. We've got to go out there and continue to pitch and try to give the team a chance to win every time you take the mound. All of us."

Former pitcher and current broadcaster Rick Sutcliffe said on ESPN he spoke recently with Halladay. He said Halladay told him he planned to retire if he could not return to prior form. Nobody with the Phillies could speak to that, although Sutcliffe is close to Halladay -- close enough that Halladay allowed his ESPN camera crew to get an intimate look at one of his bullpen sessions in Spring Training 2011.

"I think he definitely doesn't want to go out this way," Manuel said before Tuesday's game.

The Phillies announced Triple-A right-hander Tyler Cloyd will take Halladay's spot in the rotation Friday in Arizona. Cloyd is 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA in six starts with the IronPigs, although he has a 2.40 ERA (four earned runs in 15 innings) in his last two starts. They chose Cloyd over left-hander Adam Morgan, who is 1-2 with a 3.89 ERA in six starts. The Phillies love Morgan's potential and think he has a better future as a starter, but apparently they feel he is not ready for the big leagues and do not want to rush his development.

Cloyd is likely only a temporary solution with left-hander John Lannan expected back from the DL in a few weeks.

Nobody felt like saying much Tuesday about Halladay, including pitching coach Rich Dubee. He declined comment on anything related to Halladay. What could he say until the Phillies learn the results from his visit with Dodgers physician Neal ElAttrache?

"I know how much he wants to pitch," Manuel said of Halladay. "He's definitely always wanted to do his job. That's the thing that drives him. There should be more people like that."

There had been plenty of focus on Young's ability to play right field, a position he had not played since 2007. But through five games, Young has caught everything he has been expected to catch, although he has not been challenged much.

Young is hitting .150 (3-for-20) with one double, one home run, two RBIs, two walks and seven strikeouts.

"His hitting is starting to come around," Manuel said. "He's been in the Minor Leagues against young pitchers and things like that. He hasn't seen any command and the location like Major League pitchers have got. That makes a difference."

Comfortable Pence excels against Phillies

SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants right fielder Hunter Pence had a good game Monday against the Phillies, but the Phillies still won, 6-2.

The Phillies acquired Pence in July 2011 to help them win the World Series, but they fell short. They traded him to San Francisco last July as their season fell apart.

Pence, who struggled last season with the Phillies, helped the Giants win the World Series.

"If I recall, when we got him, I put him fifth," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "But when we had injuries last year, we asked him and [Shane] Victorino and some other players to step up and become those cornerstone guys, the big guys in our lineup to knock in some runs. [Pence] maybe tried a little bit too hard. Maybe he feels very comfortable [here]. When we first got him, he was comfortable with us. Now when I watch him play, he feels comfortable. I've always liked Pence and what he gives you. He comes to the ballpark, he works just as hard as anybody. He hustles. He plays hard. You can't help but like him."

Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.